These past few months have been a period of transformation at San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA). We said farewell to our former Managing Attorney, Ryan Cox, who has embarked on a new and promising career journey. As we embrace change, we are delighted to introduce our new team members who bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to our mission of providing legal aid and support to our community.
Welcoming Whitney Thomas: Our New Managing Attorney
We are excited to introduce our new Managing Attorney, Whitney Thomas, who joins us with an impressive background in estate planning, probate, and guardianship. Whitney’s legal journey has been marked by excellence and recognition. She holds degrees from Hampton University and the Southern University Law Center and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Race, Gender, and Poverty during her final year in law school.
Whitney’s commitment to the legal field and her community is evident in her accolades, including being named one of San Antonio’s Outstanding Women in Law for two consecutive years and receiving the 2023 Rising Star S.A. Lawyer award from Scene in S.A. magazine. Additionally, Whitney was honored with the Future Legend Award by the San Antonio Black Lawyers Association in 2023.
Her dedication extends beyond her legal practice, as Whitney actively participates in various legal organizations. Locally, she serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association & Foundation, Committee Chair for the Lawyer Referral Service, and Vice-Chair of the Technology Section for the San Antonio Bar Association. Whitney is also a member of the San Antonio Black Lawyers Association, the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Service.
We are confident that Whitney’s leadership and expertise will play a pivotal role in advancing SALSA’s mission.
Robert Mihara: Staff Attorney for Estates and Disability
We are excited to announce that Robert Mihara has taken on the role of Staff Attorney for our Estates and Disability program. Robert’s journey into the legal profession began as a solo practitioner specializing in elder law and special needs planning. His experience and dedication to these critical areas of law make him a valuable addition to our team.
Mónica Palma: Equal Justice Works Fellow
Mónica Palma, our new Equal Justice Works Fellow, leads the legal efforts at the Multi-Assistance Center (MAC) at Morgan’s Wonderland. Mónica’s background is both diverse and inspiring. She graduated from the University of Hartford with a degree in special education before teaching in various educational settings. Later, she earned her Master of Education at Texas State University with a concentration in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Mónica is also a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and has served as the director of clinical operations for an ABA clinic in San Antonio, TX.
Driven by her passion to serve the special needs community, Mónica pursued a law degree and graduated with honors from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2023. Her commitment to advocacy extends to her role on the Board of Directors of Mission Alpha Advocacy (MAA), a nonprofit advocating for world-class healthcare for military families.
Mónica is excited to leverage the collective-impact model, supported by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), to provide effective legal services and education to the special needs community at the MAC at Morgan’s Wonderland.
Casey Dunn: Legal Fellow for Housing and Homelessness
Casey Dunn, our new Legal Fellow for our housing and homelessness program, brings a wealth of knowledge and commitment to justice. She completed her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Jurisprudence at St. Mary’s University, where she received the Pro Bono and Public Service Award for her dedication to justice and outstanding pro bono service in the community.
We are excited to have Casey on board to contribute her expertise to our ongoing efforts in addressing housing and homelessness issues in our community.
As we navigate these exciting changes, we remain steadfast in its commitment to providing access to justice and legal assistance to those who need it most. We look forward to the positive impact that Whitney Thomas, Robert Mihara, Mónica Palma, and Casey Dunn will undoubtedly bring to our organization and the communities we serve. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our mission to make a difference in San Antonio.